Tension prevailed at the Enumamula agriculture market here on Saturday with scores of farmers staging protest over stalling of procurement by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI).
After day-long protest on Friday, officials began procurement late in the afternoon but again stopped it owing to pressure from the farmers to buy cotton with high moisture content. The officials suspended purchases on Saturday forcing the farmers to take to streets. They sat on the main thoroughfare obstructing movement of vehicles. Several of them sat in protest in front of the administrative office at the market.
BJP district president A. Ashok Reddy, who reached the place to express solidarity, was arrested by the police. On learning this, Congress leaders, including former minister Baswaraju Saraiah, former MPs S. Rajaiah and Ponnam Prabhakar, DCC president N. Rajender Reddy reached the market and staged a dharna demanding resumption of procurement immediately.
After a prolonged protest, Joint Collector Prashant Patil arrived at the market and ordered for procurement. The officials then began the purchase much to the relief of farmers. Mr. Patil clarified that the CCI would not procure cotton with over 12 per cent moisture. The farmers should bring cotton in loose without moisture content. He promised to lift the stocks completely by the evening. There were about 30,000 bags of cotton lying on the yard.
Meanwhile, farmers who have been waiting for the four days at the market, narrated their woes. Jannu Suraiah of Urugonda said as the CCI officials delayed procurement, private traders were trying to lure the farmers offering Rs. 3,800 and even less per quintal. “We have been waiting here for four days. We are impatient and cannot live here. The traders want to cash in on our situation,” he lamented. Bandaru Laxmi, a farmer from Chelpur, said waiting at the market for days cost her money.
